Balancing Development and Environmental Preservation
Tallinn, the capital of Estonia, is one of the greenest cities in Europe. The abundance of shrubs and trees gives Tallinn a unique character and helps maintain a stable ecological environment. According to statistics, each city resident enjoys an area of green spaces amounting to 1,000 square meters, which is quite significant. Overall, trees occupy nearly 27 percent of the city’s area. However, according to Mati Elisto, a representative of the city’s green spaces commission, the situation with plantings in Tallinn is not the most promising. The city is experiencing a construction boom, with new neighborhoods developing and business centers being built, but the amount of green spaces and landscaped areas is insufficient compared to the scale of new land development. The municipal services are struggling to keep up with the rapid pace of new construction.
Additionally, the Department of Environmental Protection reports disheartening figures, citing that 10,000 trees are ruthlessly cut down or damaged during construction activities.
The Fate of the City’s Green Spaces
To determine the planting location, it is necessary to wait for instructions from the Department of Environmental Protection. Liis Vaik, the chief gardener of Tallinn, says that acquiring saplings from gardening centers is not an issue—the challenge lies in obtaining an accurate district plan and identifying the designated planting areas. The development of land use plans typically gets delayed and depends on numerous organizations involved in urban construction projects. Consequently, despite the strong desire to restore damaged trees and compensate for the loss of green spaces caused by construction activities, it is not feasible to do so promptly and comprehensively.
Rules for Tree Cutting and Penalties
According to current legislation in Tallinn, it is prohibited to cut down trees without obtaining the appropriate permit from the Environmental Protection Department. If construction necessitates the removal of existing trees, the party responsible for the felling must plant new trees in a quantity that exceeds the number of those removed. The Environmental Protection Department issues tree-felling permits free of charge. However, the decision regarding the number of new plantings is based on the value, size, and quantity of the trees being felled. Only fruit trees can be cut down without a permit.
To determine whether a plant is a shrub or a tree and classify it correctly, it is essential to measure the diameter of its trunk. If it exceeds 10 centimeters, the plant is classified as a tree. The value of trees is also determined by their rarity; examples include ginkgo trees (a gymnosperm relic often referred to as a living fossil) or species that have been growing for several centuries. Undoubtedly, such trees are felled only in extremely rare cases, and obtaining permission to remove such urban plantings is not easy.
There are instances where trees are cut down without authorization. In such cases, the police issue a fine of up to 6000 crowns. This amount can be increased to the equivalent of 10 minimum wages, as confirmed by Leo Gluckman, the chief inspector of the municipal police.
The Right Approach: Ensuring the Preservation of Urban Green Spaces
The modern policy on urban greening and tree preservation has undergone several changes. This is due to insufficient funding in this sector. Many neighborhood parks and squares are neglected, trees do not receive proper care, and many areas risk losing their «green zones,» recreational spots, and parks due to untimely intervention and delays in preparing an effective urban or district greening and landscaping program.
Baltic Job Service OÜ offers the following services:
- Tree felling and stump grinding
- Removal of felled trees;
- Cutting wood for firewood;
- Cleanup and landscaping after tree removal.
Our experts will assist in evaluating the scope of necessary work and will calculate the cost of its execution.
